Method of applying heat for the treatment of ores and metalliferous sands.



UNITED STATES Parana Er ca YVILLIAM J. JACKSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. METHOD OF APPLYING HEAT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND METALLIFEROUS SANDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. J ACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Applying Heat for the Treatment of Ores and Metalliferous Sands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of applying heat in operations of extracting gold, platinum, and other metals from sands or ores containing the same, which ores may be in a more or less finely divided state. Heretofore in such operations heat has usually been applied to such sands or ores before or during the process of extraction of the metals by heating externally the vessels containing the ores or sands to be treated. In such method there is necessarily a considerable loss of heat, much of the heat generated not being utilized to heat the vessels, but escaping by outward radiation or other manner.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method by which said heat may be applied more economically and efliciently.

This invention utilizes the chemical heat evolved from an exothermic chemical compound which is mixed with the ores or sands either before the treatment or during the treatment with the extracting reagent in the wet process. The heat is thus applied internally, thereby avoiding the great loss by radiation that results from the external application of the heat, and in this method of applying heat the heat is caused to fulfil its function-by heating the ore by conduction through the mass of ore to the outside. The exothermic material which is preferably used is calcium oxid, (CaO,) and the reaction takes place upon the application of an aqueous solution to the ores or sands mixed with the exothermic material, or, the exothermic material may be added to the extracting reagent which covers the ores. In either case the reaction is in aqueous solution and takes place according to the following thermo-chemical equation:

CaO +I-I O CaO II 217,620 cal.

By this method the heat is applied to the ore economically and efliciently, because it is utilized immediately upon its evolution and without any waste. By varying the proportions of the calcium oxid the heat generated may be increased or diminished to suit the different requirements of the operation for wihch the heat is to be employed.

I claim 1. The method of applying heat for the treatment of ores or metalliferous sands which consists in adding to said ores or metalliferous sands a suitable exothermic material capable of developing heat when the aqueous solution of the extracting reagent is applied thereto, substantially as described.

2. The method of applying heat for the treatment of ores or metalliferous sands which consists in adding thereto calcium oxid and an agent cooperating with the calcium oxid to liberate heat, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. J. JACKSON. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, BEssIE GORFINKEL. 

